The Google Phone, the mystical Google-branded device to challenge the iPhone, Droid and Palm Pre, might actually be real – and coming in January.

Twitter reports from a CNet staffer and some Google employees suggest the phone, built by HTC and running Android 2.1, could launch in January 2010. The versions handed to Googlers at an all-hands meeting are GSM-unlocked. (It doesn’t look like the attached image, by the way: no pics have been leaked of the device.)

The best evidence thus far comes from CNet podcaster Jason Howell, who Tweeted the following:

-”Capacitive touch screen and on screen keyboard only, yes. Re: AT&T, it was unlocked. Dude just put an AT&T sim in it 2 test it.”

–”It was thin. Dare I say as if not a bit thinner than iPhone. Scrolly ball like on the hero. This one was running on AT&T. #googlephone”

–”Wasn’t able to gander @ h/w specs unfortunately. Supposedly, Google employees were given tons of these phones today. unlocked. #googlephone”

–”Supposedly we should start hearing a lot about the new Google phone over the next few days. Its slick in an HTC hero sorta way.”

–”The new Google Phone runs on HTC hardware. I saw it w/ Android 2.1. Homescreen has new visual enhancements like animated desktop wallpaper.”

–”…I just had my hands on the Google Phone. I feel so priveleged!”

A tweet from Leslie Hawthorn, a Product Manager at Google’s Open Source Team seems to back up Howell’s observations:

–”Stuck in mass of traffic leaving work post last all hands of 2009. ZOMG we had fireworks and we all got the new Google phone. It’s beautiful”

–”A friend from Google showed me the new Android 2.1 phone from HTC coming out in Jan. A sexy beast. Like an iPhone on beautifying steroids.”

Google Phone: Google’s Brand Play?

If true the launch of a Google Phone would give Google the kind of brand recognition in the handset market that the iPhone currently enjoys. Like Google? You’ll love the Google Phone!, ads could proclaim.

Doubts Remain

But Google is also trying to get its Android OS on as many handsets as possible: surely HTC’s rivals will be more than a bit perturbed to see Google promote the “official” handset above all those running Android? And the Google Phone is a device that’s been rumored since at least 2007. Other commentators on Howell’s podcast,Buzz Out Loud, have previously expressed doubts about Google Phone rumors: could it be a big joke?